The IDF (Israel Defense Forces) as Edom is a provocative yet deeply relevant angle when considering biblical prophecy, eschatology, and the geopolitical realities of modern Zionism. This framing challenges both traditional Christian Zionist and secular Israeli narratives by interrogating whether the modern State of Israel—especially through its military—functions in alignment with the prophetic vision of Israel or whether it has assumed the role of Edom, the betrayer and oppressor.
Edom as the Archetype of Military Power and Betrayal
In Obadiah, Edom is condemned not only for standing aloof during Israel’s suffering but for actively participating in oppression, using force to assert its dominance (Obadiah 1:10-14).
The IDF, as the military arm of the Zionist state, mirrors this by wielding overwhelming power over Palestinian populations, acting not as a covenantal force but as an imperial enforcer, much like Rome, Christendom, and past iterations of Edom.
The Talmud (Megillah 6a) describes Edom’s fall as inevitable, as it builds power through violence rather than divine covenant—an eerie parallel to modern Israeli militarism, which relies on technological and nuclear supremacy rather than Torah-based justice.
The IDF and the Role of Edom in Eschatology
Jewish Midrashim and Christian eschatology alike frame Edom as a power that relies on military conquest, alliances with foreign powers, and material strength rather than trust in God. The IDF, as one of the most powerful and well-funded militaries in the world (backed by the United States), perfectly fits this description.
The IDF is a secular force, founded by socialist and nationalist Zionists who largely rejected Torah observance. It thus parallels Edom’s rejection of divine inheritance—choosing might over righteousness, political Zionism over spiritual Zion.
Obadiah 1:3-4 warns Edom:
“The pride of your heart has deceived you, you who dwell in the clefts of the rock… Though you soar aloft like the eagle, though your nest is set among the stars, from there I will bring you down, declares the LORD.”
The IDF, symbolized by its air superiority (literally soaring among the stars), reflects Edom’s misplaced confidence in military might—a confidence that, according to prophecy, will be its downfall.
IDF as the Final Manifestation of Edom Leading to Gog
In Ezekiel 35, Edom is specifically linked to bloodshed and land theft, echoing modern Israeli expansionist policies, particularly in the West Bank.
The transition from Edom to Gog: If Edom is the military force that betrays its own spiritual calling, Gog is its final imperial form—a coalition force that brings war upon itself in a self-destructive, apocalyptic conflict.
The IDF’s increasing militarization and escalating regional conflicts (Lebanon, Syria, Iran, Gaza) align with the Gog narrative of provoking a climactic war that leads to divine intervention.
The Irony: IDF Protecting a Secular State in the Name of Biblical Israel
Zionists claim that the IDF defends “Israel”, but is this biblical Israel, or is it Edom disguised as Israel?
The Zionist movement deliberately rejected traditional Jewish messianism, establishing a state before the Messiah—which aligns not with prophetic Israel but with the rebellion of Edom, which sought to take its inheritance by force rather than waiting on God.
The IDF, in enforcing secular nationalism over Torah, may not be defending the “people of Israel” so much as protecting an Edomite construct, an empire built on military dominance rather than covenant faithfulness.
Where Does This Lead?
If Edom always falls, and if the IDF represents the Edomite spirit in modern Israel, then its trajectory is clear: Military might cannot save a nation that rejects divine justice.
Obadiah and Ezekiel warn that Edom’s reliance on violence will ultimately be its undoing. The question is whether Israel (the spiritual remnant) will separate itself from the Zionist state before it collapses under its own arrogance.
The IDF’s increasing militarization, alliances with Western empires (America, NATO), and regional overreach could bring about an apocalyptic Gog-style confrontation—one where its Edomite ambitions lead directly to destruction.
Conclusion: The IDF as Edom in Our Time
The IDF may claim to be defending Israel, but it operates as an Edomite force, enforcing imperialism rather than covenantal faithfulness.
Its trajectory aligns not with biblical Israel, but with Obadiah’s warning against those who trust in military power rather than in God.
As prophecy warns, Edom always falls—and if the IDF follows this path, it may be setting the stage for Israel’s greatest crisis yet, leading directly into the war of Gog and Magog.
